PBBM To Launch Cebu-Negros-Panay Power Transmission Project On April 8

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to inaugurate the Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone Project Stage 3 (CNP3), aimed at improving the power situation on Panay Island.

During the ceremonial energization of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project in January this year, President Marcos directed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to finish the CNP3 to avoid the same power woes. I Photo: Bongbong Marcos Facebook

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas disclosed this during the Philippine Electric Power Industry Forum 2024 at the Iloilo Convention Center.

Treñas said the CNP3 is an "immediate need" of this city and the rest of Panay Island to avoid a repeat of the recent major blackouts that occurred from January 2 to 5, followed by another blackout after two months.

The mayor highlighted that businesses were losing up to PHP 500 million daily due to the blackout at the start of 2024.

During the ceremonial energization of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project in January this year, President Marcos directed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to finish the CNP3 to avoid the same power woes.

The president declared, “We cannot afford to have another round of this costly interruption not only in Panay Island but anywhere in the country. So, let's move forward with the lessons that we have gained from this blackout and make sure this massive inconvenience and loss for our people should not occur again.”

“The realization of our ‘One Nation, One Grid’ aspiration is definitely a crucial turning point for this country in ensuring reliable power at all times,” he added.

Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara noted that the NGCP completed the 230-kilovolt CNP3 on March 27, four days ahead of the March 31 deadline.

She said that with the completion of the CNP3, the entire backbone project in Visayas is now running at full capacity.

“The importance of the completion of the CNP backbone, that’s 230 kV, is that there are now two possible routes to go to the needed islands. Before, there was only one connection.

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